Proportioning valve

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of a proportioning valve are described and shown for location at the discharge ends of a pair of conduits wherein the movable valve member cooperates with the open ends of said conduits. The valve member can be planar or with a dihedral surface and mounted for rotation alternately into obturating relation with one or the other of said conduit open ends which may be square with the conduit axis or cut obliquely. Additionally, the conduit ends may be straight or bent so as to position their mouths either horizontally, vertically or in an oblique plane. Some of the valve members are mounted centrally while others are mounted adjacent an edge, some are mounted for movement about a vertical axis, others about a horizontal axis. An example is given of a use for the valves in combination with a vacuum loader although the valves can be used effectively for controlling discharge of fluent solid material from two sources into any space either under vacuum or positive pressure feed.

The present invention relates to a proportioning valve and, moreparticularly, to such valve for controlling the discharge of fluentsolid material from two sources into a space.

While, as will appear from the ensuing discussion, the proportioningvalve of the present invention is not restricted thereto, its particularutility and advantages can best be explained wth reference by way ofexample to its use in combination with a vacuum loader. Typically, avacuum loader comprises a receptacle which is divided into suction andmaterial receiving chambers by an air or gaseous fluid filter, thesuction chamber having an outlet for connection to a vacuum source, thematerial receiving chamber having an inlet for receiving material,usually at an upper point, and an outlet for discharge of material. Thedischarge outlet is generally at the bottom of the material receivingchamber and usually provided with a vacuum controlled valve for closingsame during filling of the material receiving chamber. This type ofloader is well known.

Also well known are loaders of the foregoing type provided with pluralmaterial inlets or single inlets connected by Y junctions to pluralsupplies of material. In such instances, some form of external valvinghas been provided for controlling the passage of material into theloader from a plurality of sources. Such control is required when it isdesired to combine or mix material from plural supplies. For example, inthe plastic molding industry, it is often the practive to combine virginand scrap resin to achieve maximum economy. Heretofore, separate batchmixing has been required although a certain degree of mixing can beachieved with a vacuum loader connected to plural material sources.Unfortunately, the various valving arrangements used prior to thepresent invention have one or more drawbacks or limitations. They areslow acting, ineffective as positive closures, complex, subject to wear,jammable and cloggable.

By way of further explanation of the problem with existing valvingequipment, attempts have been made to use butterfly valves within theducts interconnecting the sources of supply with the vacuum loader.Unless the butterfly valve is located in a vertical run of the piping,there is a great tendency for material to be trapped or wedged betweenthe edge of the valve member and the wall of the duct when the valve isbeing urged into its closed position. Only with vertical runs is thisproblem minimized since the material tends to fall downstream of thevalve under the force of gravity.

The butterfly valve also has the drawback that its perimeter must beconstructed to close tolerance in order to fit closely the innerdiameter of the duct which also must be held to close tolerance. Thismakes fabrication of the butterfly type valve a costly procedure.

Because of space limitations or requirements, it is not always possibleto locate the valve in a vertical run or, if it is possible, the valvemust be located a significant distance from the vacuum loader ordischarge end of the duct it controls. This creates another problem inthat closure of the valve does not result in immediate interruption ofthe flow of material into the vacuum loader. The material downstream ofthe valve will continue to be drawn into the loader placing arestriction on the accuracy of control.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a verysimple, economical, positive acting, selfcleaning, long lived,maintenance proportioning valve for controlling the discharge ofmaterial from two sources into a space, for example, the interior of avacuum loader.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a proportioning valve for controlling the discharge of fluentsolid material from two sources into a space, comprising in combinationa pair of conduits adjacently mounted with a first end of each in mutualproximity, said conduits each having a second end for coupling eachconduit to a different one of said two sources, a valve plate, meansarticulably mounting said valve plate between said first ends of saidconduits for movement between two positions in each of which positions adifferent one of said first ends is obturated while the other isessentially unobstructed, and means for mounting said conduits with saidfirst ends and said valve plate in said space.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a proportioning valve for installation within a vacuum loaderfor controlling the entry of material into its loading chamber,comprising in combination a pair of conduits having open ends mounted ingenerally parallel spaced apart relationship for projection into saidloading chamber, and a valve member having a dihedral configuration withan obtuse dihedral angle mounted for rotational movement alongside saidopen ends of said conduits for disposition with the latter inside saidloading chamber, said valve member being mounted for rotation about anaxis lying in a plane that contains the vertex of and subdivides saiddihedral angle, and each plane section of said valve member is arrangedto cooperate with a different one of said conduit open ends, therelative relation of said conduit open ends to said valve member beingchosen such that said valve member is movable selectively between twopositions in each of which positions a different one of said conduitopen ends is obturated while the other is essentially unobstructed.

The invention will be better understood after reading the followingdetailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof withreference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a typical vacuum loader to which oneembodiment of the proportioning valve of the present invention is shownconnected;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the valve of FIG. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale,as seen along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the valve taken along line 3--3in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the valve as seen along the line4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the valve as seen along the line5--5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the conduit portion of the valvetaken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an edge view of the valve member employed in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the valve member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the proportioning valve shown in FIGS. 1to 8 and helpful in visualizing the structure;

FIG. 10 is a top view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a second embodimentof the valve;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the valveemploying a valve plate similar to that employed in the embodiment ofFIG. 10 but differently mounted;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 taken along theline 12--12 therein;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of thevalve;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing a still further embodiment of thevalve;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing yet another embodiment of thevalve; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the valve.

Reference should now be had to the drawings wherein the same referencenumerals are used throughout to designate the same or similar parts.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a typical vacuum loader 20 having suction andmaterial receiving chambers 21 and 22, respectively, separated by an airor gaseous fluid filter 23. The suction chamber 21 has an outlet 24 forconnection to a vacuum source. The material receiving chamber 22 has aninlet to be described below for receiving material. It also has anoutlet 25 at the bottom of the chamber 22 which outlet is provided witha vacuum controlled valve 26 for closing outlet 25 during filling of thematerial receiving chamber 22.

The inlet for introducing material into chamber 22 is constructed inaccordance with the present invention and is actually the valve. As seenin FIGS. 1 through 9, it consists of a pair of conduits 27 and 28 havingrespective open ends 29 and 30 mounted in generally parallel spacedapart relationship for projection into the loading chamber 22. Theconduits 27 and 28 may be mounted in an arcuate frame member or supportplate 31 arranged to be bolted or otherwise fastened to the cylindricalexterior of the vacuum loader chamber 22. The valve also includes avalve plate or member 32 mounted at the end of a shaft 33 for rotationalmovement in a bearing 34 alongside the open ends 29 and 30 of theconduits 27 and 28 for disposition with the latter inside the loadingchamber 22, as best seen in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the end 30 of the conduit 28 terminates in anoblique plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. Likewiseend 29 of conduit 27 is terminated similarly. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9,it will be observed that the valve plate 32 has a dihedral configurationwith an obtuse dihedral angle and, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 9,each plane section 35 and 36 is arranged to cooperate with a differentone of the conduit open ends 29 and 30, respectively. The axis of theshaft 33 will be seen to lie in a plane that contains the vertex 37 ofand subdivides the dihedral angle of the plate 32. As seen in FIG. 8,the axis of the shaft 33 intersects the vertex 37 at an acute angle.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a solenoid controlled pneumatic actuator38 is mounted on a bracket 39 joined to the frame member or supportplate 31 and has its output rod 40 connected by a clevis 41 to a crankarm 42 joined to shaft 33 for rotationally positioning the valve plate32. Thus, when the actuator 38 is extended as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4and 5 of the drawings, the section 35 of valve plate 32 is in contactwith and obturating the end 29 of the conduit 27. Retraction of theactuator rod 40 by the actuator 38 will rotate the valve plate 32 in theclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 such that section 36 of theplate 32 comes into engagement with open end 30 of conduit 28 obturatingsaid open end while opening the end 29 of conduit 27. In FIG. 9, thevalve is shown in perspective view in its neutral position wherein bothconduits 27 and 28 are half open.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 affords a fairly compactarrangement but because of its complex geometry is best laid outempirically. The oblique open ends 29 and 30 of conduits 27 and 28 neednot lie in a common plane. However, there should conveniently exist amirror symmetry about a vertical plane midway between and parallel toboth conduits.

It should now be evident that the valve described above is notcharacterized by the disadvantages inherent in the butterfly type valve.Instead, the valve is located in "open space" having no precision partsand such that particles downstream of the valve plate member are free tofall away from the valve avoiding jamming or clogging. The principlescan be extended to many alternative configurations of which a few willnow be described.

FIG. 10 shows parallel conduits 45 and 46 mounted horizontally inarcuate support plate 47 with squared ends 48 and 49, respectively. Avalve member 50 with a dihedral surface is mounted for rotation about avertical shaft 51 journaled in a bracket 52 secured to plate 47. Onlythe bracket at the lower end of shaft 51 is illustrated, it beingunderstood that a matching bracket on top of the shaft 51 would bejoined to the plate 47.

The location of the shaft 51 relative to the open ends 48 and 49 ofconduits 45 and 46 is such that rotation of valve member 50 will causeeach half thereof to move alternatively into obturating relationship tothe respective ends 48 and 49. In order to articulate the member 50, itis provided with a lever arm 53 connected by a link 54 to a push-pullactuator rod 55 passing through the plate 47 supported in a bearing 56.

A somewhat similar arrangement to that shown in FIG. 10 is illustratedin FIGS. 11 and 12. The valve plate member 50 instead of being mountedfor rotation on a vertical shaft is mounted on horizontal shaft 57passing directly through support plate 47 in bearing 58. In thisembodiment, the ends of conduits 59 and 60 are curved downwardly afterentering the "open space" such that the respective open ends 61 and 62lie in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane. By comparing theembodiment of FIG. 10 with the embodiment of FIG. 11, it will beobserved that in the latter the arrangement for mounting the valve plate50 is simpler while in the former the conduits remain straight and donot require a bend as in the latter. Choice of one over the other willdepend upon space requirements as well as the preferred direction ofmaterial discharge.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show further modifications of the relationshipbetween the ends of the conduits and the valve plate member. In each ofthe modifications the movable valve plate may be mounted on a verticalaxis similar to that shown in FIG. 10 or it may be mounted on ahorizontal axis similar to that shown in FIG. 11. In the latter case theends of the conduits would require a bend in the downward directionafter passing through the mounting frame or support plate therefor.Specifically, the embodiment of FIG. 13 has a valve member 63 generallygull shaped. In FIG. 14, the valve member 64 is planar and mounted forrotation about a central axis 65, while in FIG. 15 the valve member 66is also planar but mounted for rotation about a shaft 67 at one edgethereof.

Finally, a still further approach is shown in FIG. 16 wherein theconduits are mounted similar to that shown in FIG. 10 but the valveplate member 68 is mounted on a shaft 69 for rotation therewith, movingin its own plane into registration alternately with one or the other ofthe conduit ends.

Having described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention,it will be understood that numerous changes in construction can beeffected without departing from the true spirit of the invention asdefined in the appended claims. While, as mentioned previously, thepresent proportioning valve has been described in conjunction with avacuum loader, it should be understood that the valve can be used at theend of a pressure system for transporting or feeding material into anopen container or hopper or a closed vessel, as desired. In eachinstance, the valve would be located at the discharge end of theconduits carrying the material. It has been found that the subject valveis capable of abrupt interruption of flow of material affording precisecontrol of proportions when two materials are to be combined in a commonchamber or space.

What is claimed is:
 1. A proportioning valve for installation within avacuum loader for controlling the entry of material into its loadingchamber, comprising in combination a pair of cylindrical conduits havingopen ends mounted in generally parallel spaced apart relationship forprojection into said loading chamber, said open ends each terminating inan oblique plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the respectiveconduit, and a valve member having a dihedral surface with an obtusedihedral angle mounted for rotational movement alongside said open endsof said conduits for disposition with the latter inside said loadingchamber, said valve member being mounted for rotation about an axiswhich intersects at an acute angle the vertex of and lies in a planebisecting said dihedral angle, and each plane section of said dihedralsurface is arranged to cooperate with a different one of said conduitopen ends, the relative relation of said conduit open ends to said valvemember being chosen such that said valve member is movable selectivelybetween two positions in each of which positions a different one of saidconduit open ends is obturated while the other is essentiallyunobstructed.
 2. A proportioning valve for installation within a vacuumloader for controlling the entry of material into its loading chamber,comprising in combination a pair of conduits having open ends mounted ingenerally parallel spaced apart relationship for projection into saidloading chamber, and a valve plate having a dihedral configuration withan obtuse dihedral angle mounted for rotational movement alongside saidopen ends of said conduits for disposition with the latter inside saidloading chamber, said valve plate being mounted for rotation about anaxis lying in a plane that contains the vertex of and subdivides saiddihedral angle, said axis intersecting said vertex at an acute angle,and each plane section of said plate is arranged to cooperate with adifferent one of said conduit open ends, the relative relation of saidconduit open ends to said valve plate being chosen such that said valveplate is movable selectively between two positions in each of whichpositions a different one of said conduit open ends is obturated whilethe other is essentially unobstructed.
 3. A proportioning valveaccording to claim 2, wherein said plane bisects said dihedral angle. 4.A proportioning valve according to claim 3, wherein said conduits arecylindrical with their open ends each terminating in an oblique planerelative to the longitudinal axis of the respective conduit.